But I didn't act on it.
Instead, I did the opposite.
I eased the pressure and created distance between us for what I was about to do next.
Caius remained on his knees for a moment, palms pressed against the ground as he drew in a heavy breath, the relief obvious now that the pressure had eased. His shoulders rose and fell unevenly, his body still recovering from what it had just endured.
Then he forced himself up.
Slowly.
"What are you doing?" he asked, his voice steadier now, though the strain hadn't completely left it.
"One last chance," I said, and my voice carried across the space, not louder, but everywhere at once, resonating through the domain itself. "I'll give you one last opportunity to use whatever ability you have, because you're most certainly going to lose it moments after this."
Caius bit down on his lip, the tension clear.
